Wireless communications device having user initiated driver mode

ABSTRACT

A cell phone designed to operate in a normal mode and a driver mode. The cell phone includes a memory, a screen, a text entry interface and a processor. The memory is adapted to maintain a driver mode reply message. The cell phone also includes a text-based message system and a driver mode system. The text-based message system is adapted to receive incoming text-based messages and send outgoing text-based messages. The driver mode system is adapted to transition the phone between the normal mode and the driver mode. Responsive to incoming text-based messages from message senders when the phone is in the driver mode, the text-based message system automatically sends the driver mode reply message to the message senders, thereby alleviating the driver&#39;s urge to check and reply to the incoming text-based messages.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 15/479,199filed Apr. 4, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,729,475, which issued Aug. 8,2017.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates, in general, to wireless communicationsdevices such as cell phones and, in particular, to a wirelesscommunications device having a driver mode in which a driver mode replymessage is automatically sent to message senders responsive to incomingtext-based messages, thereby alleviating the driver's urge to check andreply to the incoming text-based messages.

BACKGROUND

Driver distraction is a specific type of inattention that occurs whendrivers divert their attention away from the driving task to focus onanother activity. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) has broadly categorized driver distractions into three types:(1) visual distractions which are tasks that require the driver to lookaway from the roadway to visually obtain information; (2) manualdistractions which are tasks that require the driver to take one or bothhands off the steering wheel to manipulate a control, device or othernon-driving-related item; and (3) cognitive distractions which are tasksthat require the driver to avert their mental attention away from thedriving task. Notably, manual text entry into a wireless communicationsdevice for the purpose of text-based messaging simultaneously involvesall three distraction types and is thus a particularly dangerousactivity.

While state laws and consumer information campaigns have sought toreduce driver distractions caused by texting, young people that havegrown up with this technology seem compelled to read and obliged toimmediately reply to text messages regardless of their surroundings.Proposals have been made to limit the functionality of wirelesscommunications devices used by drivers by locking out certain featuresthat inherently interfere with a driver's ability to safely control avehicle, such as the manual text entry functionality. While thisapproach may reduce certain visual-manual interaction with a driver'swireless communications device, it fails to address the cognitivedistraction caused by the driver's urge to check and immediately replyto incoming messages. Accordingly, a need has arisen for a wirelesscommunications device having a driver mode that alleviates a driver'surge to check and immediately reply to incoming messages.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed a wireless communications devicedesigned to operate in a normal mode and a driver mode. In the normalmode, a reply message is not automatically sent to message sendersresponsive to incoming text-based messages. In the driver mode, however,a driver mode reply message is automatically sent to message sendersresponsive to incoming text-based messages to alleviate a driver's urgeto check and immediately reply to incoming text-based messages.

In a first aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a wirelesscommunications device having a normal mode and a driver mode. The deviceincludes a memory adapted to maintain a driver mode reply message. Atext-based message system is adapted to receive incoming text-basedmessages and send outgoing text-based messages. A screen is adapted todisplay the incoming and outgoing text-based messages. A text entryinterface is adapted to receive user input of the outgoing text-basedmessages. At least one processor is coupled to the memory, the screenand the text entry interface. A driver mode system is adapted totransition the device between the normal mode and the driver mode.Responsive to incoming text-based messages from message senders when thedevice is in the normal mode, the text-based message system does notautomatically send the driver mode reply message to the message senders.Responsive to the incoming text-based messages from message senders whenthe device is in the driver mode, the text-based message systemautomatically sends the driver mode reply message to the messagesenders.

In some embodiments, the device may include a short range communicationssystem operable to pair the device with a vehicle. In such embodiments,the device may transition from the normal mode to the driver moderesponsive to pairing the device with the vehicle and the device maytransitions from the driver mode to the normal mode responsive tounpairing the device from the vehicle. In certain embodiments, thedevice may transition between the normal mode and the driver moderesponsive to user input. In some embodiments, the device may transitionfrom the normal mode to the driver mode responsive to a predeterminedchange of location of the device between first and second incomingtext-based message notifications. In other embodiments, the device maytransition from the normal mode to the driver mode responsive to apredetermined change of location of the device in a predetermined timeperiod after receiving an incoming text-based message.

In certain embodiments, responsive to subsequent incoming text-basedmessages from a particular message sender during a driver mode session,the text-based message system does not resend the driver mode replymessage to the particular message senders. In some embodiments,text-based message notifications may be silenced when the device is inthe driver mode. In certain embodiments, the text entry interface may bea virtual keyboard displayed on the screen, a physical keyboard and/or amicrophone together with a voice recognition system. In someembodiments, the device may be a smartphone, a cell phone, a personaldigital assistant, a tablet computer or similar communications device.In certain embodiments, the incoming and outgoing text-based messagesmay be text messages, SMS messages, EMS messages, MMS messages,iMessages or similar alphanumeric and/or emoji-based messages.

In a second aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a wirelesscommunications device having a normal mode and a driver mode. The deviceincludes a memory adapted to maintain a driver mode reply message. Atext-based message system is adapted to receive incoming text-basedmessages and send outgoing text-based messages. A short rangecommunications system is operable to pair the device with a vehicle. Atouch screen is adapted to display the incoming and outgoing text-basedmessages and receive user input of the outgoing text-based messages. Atleast one speaker is operable to generate sounds responsive to incomingtext-based messages. At least one processor is coupled to the memory,the short range communications system, the touch screen and the at leastone speaker. A driver mode system is adapted to transition the devicebetween the normal mode and the driver mode. The device transitions fromthe normal mode to the driver mode responsive to pairing the device withthe vehicle. Responsive to incoming text-based messages from messagesenders when the device is in the normal mode, the text-based messagesystem does not automatically send the driver mode reply message to themessage senders. Responsive to the incoming text-based messages from themessage senders when the device is in the driver mode, the text-basedmessage system automatically sends the driver mode reply message to themessage senders.

In a third aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a cell phonedesigned to operate in a normal mode and a driver mode, wherein in thenormal mode, a driver mode reply message is not automatically sent tomessage senders responsive to incoming text-based messages and, whereinin the driver mode, the driver mode reply message is automatically sentto the message senders responsive to the incoming text-based messages toalleviate a driver's urge to check and reply to the incoming text-basedmessages. The phone includes a memory adapted to maintain the drivermode reply message. A text-based message system is adapted to receivethe incoming text-based messages and send outgoing text-based messages.A screen is adapted to display the incoming and outgoing text-basedmessages. A text entry interface is adapted to receive user input of theoutgoing text-based messages. At least one processor is coupled to thememory, the screen and the text entry interface. A driver mode system isadapted to transition the phone between the normal mode and the drivermode. Responsive to incoming text-based messages from message senderswhen the phone is in the normal mode, the text-based message system doesnot automatically send the driver mode reply message to the messagesenders. Responsive to incoming text-based messages from message senderswhen the phone is in the driver mode, the text-based message systemautomatically sends the driver mode reply message to the messagesenders, thereby alleviating the driver's urge to check and reply to theincoming text-based message.

In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method ofoperating a wireless communications device. The method includesmaintaining a driver mode reply message in a memory; operating atext-based message system adapted to receive incoming text-basedmessages and send outgoing text-based messages, displaying the incomingand outgoing text-based messages on a screen; receiving user input ofthe outgoing text-based messages with a text entry interface;transitioning the device between the normal mode and the driver mode;responsive to incoming text-based messages from message senders when thedevice is in the normal mode, not automatically sending the driver modereply message to the message senders and responsive to the incomingtext-based messages from the message senders when the device is in thedriver mode, automatically sending the driver mode reply message to themessage senders.

In a fifth aspect, the present disclosure is directed to anon-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a set ofcomputer instructions executable by a processor for operating a wirelesscommunications device. The computer instructions are configured tomaintain a driver mode reply message in a memory; operate a text-basedmessage system adapted to receive incoming text-based messages and sendoutgoing text-based messages, display the incoming and outgoingtext-based messages on a screen; receive user input of the outgoingtext-based messages with a text entry interface; transition the devicebetween the normal mode and the driver mode; responsive to incomingtext-based messages from message senders when the device is in thenormal mode, not automatically send the driver mode reply message to themessage senders and responsive to the incoming text-based messages fromthe message senders when the device is in the driver mode, automaticallysend the driver mode reply message to the message senders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of thepresent disclosure, reference is now made to the detailed descriptionalong with the accompanying figures in which corresponding numerals inthe different figures refer to corresponding parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary wirelesscommunications device and a vehicle system in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of operating a wirelesscommunications device in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure; and

FIGS. 3A-3C are screen views of a wireless communications deviceoperating in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentdisclosure are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present disclosure provides many applicable inventive concepts,which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. Thespecific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative and do notdelimit the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, therein is depicted a wirelesscommunications device 10 such as a smartphone, a cell phone, a personaldigital assistant, a tablet computer or other similar computing deviceand a vehicle system 12 that may be part of the entertainment and/ornavigation system of a vehicle such as a automobile, SUV, minivan ortruck. Wireless communications device 10 includes a microprocessor 14that controls the overall operation of device 10 and may be referred tosimply as a “processor.” Device 10 has a one or more input devices 16such as an on/off switch, volume buttons, a home button, a touch screen,a physical keyboard and the like. Preferably, in touch screenembodiments, the touch screen is operable to display a text entryinterface such as a virtual keyboard. Alternatively or additionally, thetext entry interface may include the physical keyboard. In theillustrated embodiment, device 10 has other input/output devicesincluding a set of auxiliary I/O devices 18, a wired interface portdepicted as USB port 20, a speaker system 22 and a microphone 24. Device10 also includes a communications subsystem 26, a short-rangecommunications subsystem depicted a Bluetooth radio 28, a display 30,such as a touch screen display, memory devices depicted as a flashmemory 32 and a Random Access Memory (RAM) 34 as well as a locationtracking system depicted as GPS system 36. Device 10 further includes abattery 38 to power the active elements of device 10.

Operating system software executed by the microprocessor 14 may bestored in a persistent store, such as flash memory 32 or alternativelymay be stored in other types of memory devices, such as a read onlymemory (ROM) or similar storage element. In addition, system software,device applications or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into avolatile store, such as RAM 34. Communication signals received by device10 may also be stored to RAM 34. Preferably, a user selectable drivermode reply message, such as “I can't text now, I'm driving,” a drivingemoji or other desired reply message, is stored in flash memory 32 orother suitable memory store.

Microprocessor 14, in addition to performing its operating systemfunctions, executes software applications (computer programs) 40A-40N ondevice 10. For example, a predetermined set of applications that controlbasic device operations, such as voice communications module 40A anddata communications module 40B, may be installed on device 10 duringmanufacture. Voice communication module 40A may incorporate a voicerecognition engine. Together, the voice recognition engine andmicrophone 24 may operate as a part of the text entry interface. Datacommunication module 40B may be part of a text-based message system thatis adapted to receive incoming text-based messages and send outgoingtext-based messages such as text messages, Short Message Service (SMS)messages, Extended Message Service (EMS) messages, Multimedia MessagingService (MMS) messages, iMessages or similar alphanumeric and/oremoji-based messages. The text-based message system may communicate withand/or incorporate the one or more text entry interfaces.

Also installed during or after manufacture is a driver mode module 40Cthat is operable to transition device 10 between a normal mode and adriver mode. As discussed herein, in the normal mode of device 10, areply message is not automatically sent to message senders responsive toincoming text-based messages. In the driver mode of device 10, however,a driver mode reply message, such as “I can't text now, I'm driving” isautomatically sent to a message sender responsive to incoming text-basedmessages to alleviate the driver of a vehicle from the urge to check andreply to incoming text-based messages. Additional software modules,illustrated as software modules 40N, may also be installed during orafter manufacture on device 10.

Wireless communication device 10 may be a two-way RF communicationdevice having voice and data communication capabilities. Communicationfunctions, including data and voice communications, are performed bydevice 10 through communication subsystem 26 and through Bluetooth radio28. Communication subsystem 26 includes a receiver 44, a transmitter 46and one or more antennas 48, 50. In addition, communication subsystem 26includes a processing module, such as a digital signal processor (DSP)52 and local oscillators (LOs) 54. The specific design andimplementation of communication subsystem 26 is dependent upon thecommunication network in which device 10 is intended to operate. Forexample, communication subsystem 26 of device 10 may be designed tooperate with the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile datacommunication networks and may also be designed to operate with any of avariety of voice communication networks, such as Advanced Mobile PhoneService (AMPS), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA), Personal Communication Services (PCS), GlobalSystem for Mobile communication (GSM), third generation (3G) wireless,Universal Mobile Telecommunications Standard (UMTS) and/or fourthgeneration (4G) wireless. Other types of data and voice networks, suchas Wi-Fi networks, may also be utilized with device 10.

When any required network registration or activation procedures havebeen completed, wireless communications device 10 may send and receivecommunication signals over communication network 56 including wired andwireless nodes such as base stations and switches. Signals received fromcommunication network 56 by antenna 48 are routed to receiver 44, whichprovides for signal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering,channel selection, etc., and may also provide analog-to-digitalconversion. Analog-to-digital conversion of the received signal allowsDSP 52 to perform more complex communication functions, such asdemodulation and decoding. In a similar manner, signals to betransmitted to network 56 are processed (e.g. modulated and encoded) byDSP 52 and are then provided to transmitter 46 for digital-to-analogconversion, frequency up conversion, filtering, amplification andtransmission to communication network 56 via antenna 50.

Data communications, such as a received text-based message signal,including text messages, SMS messages, EMS messages, MMS messages,iMessages or the like, are processed by communication subsystem 26 andinput to microprocessor 14. The received signal may be furtherprocessed, managed and/or handled by data communication module 40B andoutput to display 30 or alternatively to some other auxiliary I/O device18. A device user may compose text-based messages, using one of theinput devices 16 providing a text entry interface, such as a virtualkeyboard or a physical keyboard. Alternatively, microphone 24 and thevoice recognition engine may form at least part of the text entryinterface. The composed text-based messages may be processed, managedand/or handled by data communication module 40B, then transmitted overcommunication network 56 via communication subsystem 26.

Voice communications are processes by device 10 substantially similar todata communications, except that the received signals are output tospeaker 22 and signals for transmission are generated by microphone 24.Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice messagerecording subsystem, may also be implemented on device 10. In addition,display 30 may be utilized in voice communication mode, for example, todisplay the identity of a calling party, the duration of a voice call orother voice call related information. Bluetooth radio 28 enablescommunication between and preferably pairing of device 10 with otherproximate systems or devices such as vehicle system 12. For example,Bluetooth radio 28 enables short-range communications withsimilarly-enabled systems and devices.

Vehicle system 12 includes a microprocessor 60 that controls the overalloperation of vehicle system 12 and may be referred to simply as a“processor.” Vehicle system 12 has one or more input devices 62 such asdials, buttons, a touch screen or the like. In the illustratedembodiment, vehicle system 12 has input/output devices including a wiredinterface port depicted as USB port 64, a speaker 66 and a microphone68. Vehicle system 12 includes a location tracking system depicted asGPS system 70, a short-range communications subsystem depicted asBluetooth radio 72, a display 74, such as a touch screen display, memorydevices including a flash memory 76 and a Random Access Memory (RAM) 78as well as various other device subsystems (not pictured). Vehiclesystem 12 receives power from the vehicle battery (not pictured).

Operating system software executed by the microprocessor 60 may bestored in a persistent store, such as flash memory 76 or alternativelymay be stored in other types of memory devices, such as a read onlymemory (ROM) or similar storage element. In addition, system software,device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into avolatile store, such as RAM 78. Microprocessor 60, in addition toperforming its operating system functions, may execute softwareapplications (computer programs) on vehicle system 12. A predeterminedset of applications that control basic system operations may beinstalled on vehicle system 12 including, for example, a voicecommunications module including a voice recognition engine to receiveuser input.

Preferably, device 10 and vehicle system 12 are operable to be pairedtogether using a wired or wireless communications protocol. For example,device 10 and vehicle system 12 may be coupled together manually using asuitable cable such as a USB cable, indicated by dashed line 80 betweenUSB port 20 of device 10 to USB port 64 of vehicle system 12.Alternatively, device 10 and vehicle system 12 may be coupled togetherautomatically using a wireless short-range communications protocol,indicated by dashed line 82 between Bluetooth radio 28 of device 10 andBluetooth radio 72 of vehicle system 12. Whether using a wired orwireless method, following a suitable software handshake to pair device10 with vehicle system 12, certain functions of device 10 may becontrolled, shared or accessed by vehicle system 12 and/or certainfunctions of vehicle system 12 may be controlled, shared or accessed bydevice 10 depending upon the particular implementation. For example, anincoming telephone call received on device 10 may be answered by theuser engaging one of the input devices 62 of vehicle system 12.Likewise, voice communication may be process through speaker 66 andmicrophone 68 of vehicle system 12, while communication with network 56are processed by communications subsystem 26 of device 10.

Preferably, the pairing of device 10 and vehicle system 12 launchesdriver mode module 40C such that device 10 automatically transitionsfrom its normal mode, in which a reply message is not automatically sentto message senders responsive to incoming text-based messages, to thedriver mode, in which the driver mode reply message is automaticallysent to message senders responsive to incoming text-based messages. Inthis embodiment, the unpairing of device 10 from vehicle system 12preferably ends the driver mode session of device 10, therebyautomatically returning device 10 to its normal mode. Alternatively oradditionally, device 10 may be transitioned between the normal mode andthe driver mode responsive to user input such as by manually launchingdriver mode module 40C on device 10. As another alternative, device 10may automatically transition from the normal mode to the driver moderesponsive to a predetermined change in location of device 10 in apredetermined time period, such as a predetermined time period afterreceiving an incoming text-based message including the time periodbetween a first and a second incoming text-based message notificationprovided by device 10. The change in location of device 10 may bedetermined by driver mode module 40C in conjunction with GPS system 36,GPS system 70 or other suitable location tracking system.

Driver mode module 40C may, responsive to a persistent user selection orautomatically, implement additional features such as not resending thedriver mode reply message to the same message sender responsive to asubsequent incoming text-based message from that message sender duringthe same driver mode session. Likewise, driver mode module 40C may,responsive to a persistent user selection or automatically, silenceincoming text-based message notifications during driver mode sessions tofurther prevent driver distraction.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3A-3C in the drawings, a flow diagram andscreen views illustrating the operation of a wireless communicationsdevice in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure arepresented. In block 100 of FIG. 2, the process involves pairing device10 with vehicle system 12, preferably using a short-range communicationsprotocol such as Bluetooth communications. In block 102, driver modemodule 40C is executed on device 10 which starts a driver mode session,as indicated by car icon 120 in FIGS. 3A-3C. Preferably, device 10automatically launches driver mode module 40C responsive to the pairingof device 10 with vehicle system 12. In block 104, an incomingtexted-based message from a message sender is received at device 10. Forexample, as best seen in FIG. 3A, Dad has sent text message 122 asking“What time will you be arriving for dinner?” In decision 106, it isdetermined whether, in the current driver mode session, notifications ofincoming texted-based messages have been silenced. If notifications ofincoming texted-based messages have been silenced, the process branchesto block 108 and speaker 22 of device 10 does not emit an audiblenotification reporting the arrival of the incoming texted-based message.If notifications of incoming texted-based messages have not beensilenced, the process branches to block 110 and speaker 22 of device 10emits an audible notification, such as a text tone, reporting thearrival of the incoming texted-based message.

The process then progresses to decision 112, in which it is determinedwhether the incoming texted-based message is a second or subsequentincoming texted-based message from the same message sender during thecurrent driver mode session. If the incoming texted-based message is asubsequent incoming texted-based message from the same message senderduring the current driver mode session, the process progresses to block114 and no driver mode reply message is sent. If the incomingtexted-based message is the first incoming texted-based message from amessage sender during the current driver mode session, as indicated inFIG. 3A, the process progresses to block 116 and the driver mode replymessage is automatically sent to the message sender. For example, asbest seen in FIG. 3B, device 10 has automatically generated and sent thedriver mode reply message 124 to Dad stating “I can't text now, I'mdriving.” It is noted that when a driver mode reply message is sent to amessage sender, a driver reply notice 126 is displayed in the textmessage display screen. In the illustrated embodiment, driver replynotice 126 reads “Sent in Driver Mode” and is displayed proximate drivermode reply message 124 and in particular, below driver mode replymessage 124. Additionally or alternatively, to indicate that a replymessage has been automatically sent in the driver mode of device 10,driver mode reply message 124 may be displayed in a different font thannon driver mode reply messages, may be displayed in a different colorthan non driver mode reply messages, may be displayed in a differentsize than non driver mode reply messages, may be displayed in a bubblehaving a different color than other sent messages that are non drivermode reply messages and/or may be displayed in a bubble having adifferent shape than other sent messages that are non driver mode replymessages.

After either block 114 or block 116, the process progresses to decision128, in which it is determined whether device 10 has unpaired fromvehicle system 12. If device 10 has not unpaired from vehicle system 12and another incoming texted-based message is received, the processreturns to block 104. In this case, as indicated in FIG. 3C, Dad hasresponded to driver mode reply message 124 with text message 130 stating“Thank you for being safe!” Progressing to decision 106, it isdetermined whether, in the current driver mode session, notifications ofincoming texted-based messages have been silenced. If notifications ofincoming texted-based messages have been silenced, the process branchesto block 108 and speaker 22 of device 10 does not emit an audiblenotification reporting the arrival of the incoming texted-based message.If notifications of incoming texted-based messages have not beensilenced, the process branches to block 110 and speaker 22 of device 10emits an audible notification, such as a text tone, reporting thearrival of the incoming texted-based message.

The process then progresses to decision 112, in which it is determinedwhether the incoming texted-based message is a second or subsequentincoming texted-based message from the same message sender during thecurrent driver mode session. In this case, the incoming texted-basedmessage is a subsequent incoming texted-based message from the samemessage sender during the current driver mode session, thus the processprogresses to block 114 and no driver mode reply message is sent. Theprocess progresses to decision 128, in which it is determined whetherdevice 10 has unpaired from vehicle system 12. If device 10 has unpairedfrom vehicle system 12, the process progresses to block 132 where thecurrent driver mode session is ended. In block 134, device 10 isautomatically returned to normal mode, wherein device 10 no longerautomatically sends a driver mode reply message to a message senderresponsive to the arrival of an incoming text-based message.

Embodiments of methods, systems and program products of the presentdisclosure have been described herein with reference to drawings. Whilethe drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments thatimplement the methods, systems and program products of the presentdisclosure, the drawings should not be construed as imposing on thedisclosure any limitations that may be present in the drawings. Theembodiments described above contemplate methods, systems and programproducts stored on any non-transitory machine-readable storage media foraccomplishing its operations. The embodiments may be implemented usingan existing processor or by a special purpose processor incorporated forthis or another purpose or by a hardwired system.

Certain embodiments can include program products comprisingnon-transitory machine-readable storage media for carrying or havingmachine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Suchmachine-readable media may be any available media that may be accessedby a general purpose or special purpose processor. By way of example,such machine-readable storage media may comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM,EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which may be used tocarry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executableinstructions or data structures and which may be accessed by a generalpurpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor.Combinations of the above are also included within the scope ofmachine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions comprise, forexample, instructions and data which cause a general purpose processor,special purpose processor or special purpose processing machine toperform a certain function or group of functions.

Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in the generalcontext of method steps which may be implemented in one embodiment by aprogram product including machine-executable instructions, such asprogram code, for example in the form of program modules executed bymachines in communication with one another. Generally, program modulesinclude routines, programs, logics, objects, components, datastructures, and the like that perform particular tasks or implementparticular abstract data types. Machine-executable instructions,associated data structures and program modules represent examples ofprogram code for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. Theparticular sequence of such executable instructions or associated datastructures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementingthe functions described in such steps.

An exemplary implementation of embodiments of methods, systems andprogram products disclosed herein might include general purposecomputing systems in the form of a wireless communications device,including a processing unit, a system memory or database, and a systembus that couples various system components including the system memoryto the processing unit. The database or system memory may include readonly memory (ROM) and/or random access memory (RAM) on magnetic,optical, solid state or other drives. The drives and their associatedmachine-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of machine-executableinstructions, data structures, program modules and other data.

It should be noted that although the diagrams herein may show a specificorder and composition of method steps, it is understood that the orderof these steps may differ from what is depicted. For example, two ormore steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence.Also, some method steps that are performed as discrete steps may becombined, steps being performed as a combined step may be separated intodiscrete steps, the sequence of certain processes may be reversed orotherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete processes may bealtered or varied. The order or sequence of any element or apparatus maybe varied or substituted according to alternative embodiments.Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included withinthe scope of the present disclosure. Such variations will depend on thesoftware and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. It isunderstood that all such variations are within the scope of the presentdisclosure. Likewise, software implementations of the present disclosurecould be accomplished with standard programming techniques using rulebased logic and other logic to accomplish the various processes.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the disclosure has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise formdisclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of theabove teachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosure. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principalsof the disclosure and its practical application to enable one skilled inthe art to utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and withvarious modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made inthe design, operating conditions and arrangement of the embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Suchmodifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments as wellas other embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the art uponreference to the description. It is, therefore, intended that theappended claims encompass any such modifications or embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cell phone designed to operate in a normal modeand a driver mode, in the normal mode, a driver mode reply message isnot automatically sent to a message sender responsive to incomingtext-based messages and, in the driver mode, the driver mode replymessage is automatically sent to the message sender responsive to theincoming text-based messages, the phone comprising: a memory adapted tomaintain the driver mode reply message; a text-based message systemadapted to receive the incoming text-based messages and send outgoingtext-based messages; a screen adapted to display the incoming andoutgoing text-based messages; a text entry interface adapted to receiveuser input of the outgoing text-based messages; at least one processorcoupled to the memory and the screen; and a driver mode system adaptedto transition the phone between the normal mode and the driver mode;wherein, the device is operable to transition between the normal modeand the driver mode responsive to user input; wherein, responsive toincoming text-based messages from message senders when the device is inthe normal mode, the text-based message system does not automaticallysend the driver mode reply message to the message senders; wherein,responsive to a first incoming text-based message from a message senderduring a driver mode session, the text-based message systemautomatically sends the driver mode reply message to the message sender;and wherein, responsive to subsequent incoming text-based messages fromthe message sender during the driver mode session, the text-basedmessage system does not resend the driver mode reply message to themessage sender.
 2. The phone as recited in claim 1 wherein the textentry interface is selected from the group consisting of a virtualkeyboard displayed on the screen, a keyboard and a microphone incombination with a voice recognition system.
 3. The phone as recited inclaim 1 further comprising at least one speaker operable to generatesounds responsive to incoming text-based messages.
 4. The phone asrecited in claim 3 wherein text-based message notifications are silencedwhen the device is in the driver mode.
 5. The phone as recited in claim1 wherein the incoming and outgoing text-based messages further compriseat least one of text messages, SMS messages, EMS messages, MMS messagesand iMessages.
 6. A wireless communications device having a normal modeand a driver mode, the device comprising: a memory adapted to maintain adriver mode reply message; a text-based message system adapted toreceive incoming text-based messages and send outgoing text-basedmessages; a touch screen adapted to display the incoming and outgoingtext-based messages and receive user input of the outgoing text-basedmessages; at least one speaker operable to generate sounds responsive toincoming text-based messages; at least one processor coupled to thememory, the touch screen and the at least one speaker; and a driver modesystem adapted to transition the device between the normal mode and thedriver mode; wherein, the device is operable to transition between thenormal mode and the driver mode responsive to user input; wherein,responsive to incoming text-based messages from message senders when thedevice is in the normal mode, the text-based message system does notautomatically send the driver mode reply message to the message senders;wherein, responsive to a first incoming text-based message from amessage sender during a driver mode session, the text-based messagesystem automatically sends the driver mode reply message to the messagesender; and wherein, responsive to subsequent incoming text-basedmessages from the message sender during the driver mode session, thetext-based message system does not resend the driver mode reply messageto the message sender.
 7. The device as recited in claim 6 whereintext-based message notifications are silenced when the device is in thedriver mode.
 8. The device as recited in claim 6 wherein the device isselected from the group consisting of smartphones, cell phones, personaldigital assistants and tablet computers.
 9. The device as recited inclaim 6 wherein the incoming and outgoing text-based messages furthercomprise at least one of text messages, SMS messages, EMS messages, MMSmessages and iMessages.
 10. A wireless communications device having anormal mode and a driver mode, the device comprising: a memory adaptedto maintain a driver mode reply message; a text-based message systemadapted to receive incoming text-based messages and send outgoingtext-based messages; a screen adapted to display the incoming andoutgoing text-based messages; a text entry interface adapted to receiveuser input of the outgoing text-based messages; at least one processorcoupled to the memory and the screen; and a driver mode system adaptedto transition the device between the normal mode and the driver mode;wherein, responsive to incoming text-based messages from message senderswhen the device is in the normal mode, the text-based message systemdoes not automatically send the driver mode reply message to the messagesenders; wherein, responsive to a first incoming text-based message froma message sender during a driver mode session, the text-based messagesystem automatically sends the driver mode reply message to the messagesender; and wherein, responsive to subsequent incoming text-basedmessages from the message sender during the driver mode session, thetext-based message system does not resend the driver mode reply messageto the message sender.
 11. The device as recited in claim 10 wherein adriver reply notice is displayed on screen indicating the driver modereply message was sent in the driver mode.
 12. The device as recited inclaim 10 wherein a driver mode icon is displayed on screen indicatingthe device is in the driver mode.
 13. The device as recited in claim 10wherein the device is operable to transition between the normal mode andthe driver mode responsive to user input.
 14. The device as recited inclaim 10 wherein text-based message notifications are silenced when thedevice is in the driver mode.
 15. The device as recited in claim 10wherein the text entry interface is selected from the group consistingof a virtual keyboard displayed on the screen, a keyboard and amicrophone in combination with a voice recognition system.
 16. Thedevice as recited in claim 10 wherein the device is selected from thegroup consisting of smartphones, cell phones, personal digitalassistants and tablet computers.
 17. The device as recited in claim 10wherein the incoming and outgoing text-based messages further compriseat least one of text messages, SMS messages, EMS messages, MMS messagesand iMessages.